diff --git a/src/js/chat-widget.el b/src/js/chat-widget.el
index a9c0250..5e408e8 100644
--- a/src/js/chat-widget.el
+++ b/src/js/chat-widget.el
@@ -276,6 +276,41 @@ fn main() -> Void {
       });
       var d = await r.json();
       if (thinking) thinking.remove();
+
+      // Server-side rate limit — show a live countdown to reset
+      if (d.rate_limited && d.reset_at) {
+        var _showRateTimer = function() {
+          var now    = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+          var secsLeft = Math.max(0, d.reset_at - now);
+          var hh   = Math.floor(secsLeft / 3600);
+          var mm   = Math.floor((secsLeft % 3600) / 60);
+          var ss   = secsLeft % 60;
+          var pad  = function(n) { return n < 10 ? '0' + n : '' + n; };
+          var ts   = hh > 0 ? (hh + ':' + pad(mm) + ':' + pad(ss)) : (pad(mm) + ':' + pad(ss));
+          return 'You\'ve had 10 conversations today. Come back in ' + ts + '.';
+        };
+        addMsg('ai', _showRateTimer());
+        // Update the last ai message with a live ticker
+        var _timerInterval = setInterval(function() {
+          var thMsgsInner = document.getElementById('neuron-demo-msgs');
+          if (!thMsgsInner) { clearInterval(_timerInterval); return; }
+          var aiMsgs = thMsgsInner.querySelectorAll('.neuron-msg-ai');
+          var lastAi = aiMsgs[aiMsgs.length - 1];
+          if (lastAi) { lastAi.textContent = _showRateTimer(); }
+          if (Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) >= d.reset_at) {
+            clearInterval(_timerInterval);
+            if (lastAi) { lastAi.textContent = 'You\'re all set — conversations reset. Say hello!'; }
+            if (input)  { input.disabled = false; input.placeholder = 'Ask me anything...'; }
+            if (btn)    { btn.disabled = false; }
+          }
+        }, 1000);
+        if (input) { input.disabled = true; input.placeholder = 'Come back tomorrow...'; }
+        if (btn)   { btn.disabled = true; }
+        if (btn)   { btn.disabled = false; }
+        if (input) { input.focus(); }
+        return;
+      }
+
       _um(session, d.sn, d.se);
       var reply   = d.response || d.reply || d.message || '';
       var isError = !reply || reply === 'Stepped out for a moment. Try again.';
diff --git a/src/main.el b/src/main.el
index 3c064f3..8ca4a48 100644
--- a/src/main.el
+++ b/src/main.el
@@ -1086,16 +1086,36 @@ fn handle_request(method: String, path: String, body: String) -> String {
             if str_eq(msg, "") {
                 return "{\"error\":\"message required\"}"
             }
-            // Rate limit: 25 requests per uid per hour (stored in process state)
+            // Rate limit: 10 chats per uid per day (UTC day, keyed by uid).
+            // State key: "__rl_<uid>" → "<count>|<day_number>"
+            // day_number = unix_timestamp / 86400 (integer UTC day)
+            // Returns rate_limited JSON with reset_at (next midnight UTC) so
+            // the frontend can show a real countdown.
             let rate_uid: String = json_get(body, "uid")
             if !str_eq(rate_uid, "") {
-                let rate_key: String = "__rate__" + rate_uid
-                let rate_val: String = state_get(rate_key)
-                let rate_count: Int = if str_eq(rate_val, "") { 0 } else { str_to_int(rate_val) }
-                if rate_count >= 25 {
-                    return "{\"response\":\"You've hit the rate limit. Come back in an hour.\"}"
+                let now_ts:     Int = unix_timestamp()
+                let today_day:  Int = now_ts / 86400
+                let next_reset: Int = (today_day + 1) * 86400
+                let rl_key:     String = "__rl_" + rate_uid
+                let rl_val:     String = state_get(rl_key)
+                let rl_count:   Int = 0
+                let rl_day:     Int = 0
+                if !str_eq(rl_val, "") {
+                    // format: "count|day"
+                    let parts: [String] = str_split(rl_val, "|")
+                    if native_list_len(parts) >= 2 {
+                        let rl_count = str_to_int(native_list_get(parts, 0))
+                        let rl_day   = str_to_int(native_list_get(parts, 1))
+                    }
                 }
-                state_set(rate_key, int_to_str(rate_count + 1))
+                // Reset count if it's a new day
+                if rl_day != today_day {
+                    let rl_count = 0
+                }
+                if rl_count >= 10 {
+                    return "{\"rate_limited\":true,\"reset_at\":" + int_to_str(next_reset) + "}"
+                }
+                state_set(rl_key, int_to_str(rl_count + 1) + "|" + int_to_str(today_day))
             }
             // Turnstile: verify on first message only (tokens are single-use).
             // Per-message verification breaks chat flow. Forms get full verification.